May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on WHAV.

Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on WHAV.

May is national skin cancer awareness month. Celebrate by covering up and making an appointment to see your dermatologist.

Sunshine and gardening go hand in hand. So be sure to incorporate a bit of skin cancer prevention into your gardening practices.

Work in shady areas of the landscape between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Save those sunny spots for early morning or evening when the sun is less intense.

Wear long sleeves and a broad-brimmed hat to protect your skin and UV-blocking sunglasses for the health of your eyes.

Use a broad spectrum water-resistant UVA/UVB sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher for longer gardening sessions.  Apply 2 tablespoons of sunscreen over your entire body 30 minutes before going outside.  Then reapply every two hours or right after breaking into a heavy sweat.

A bit more information:  Do monthly self-checkups looking for any changes in skin texture, color and tenderness. And schedule a yearly skin exam with a physician or dermatologist. For more information on skin cancer click here.

For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com.